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Equipment
1 10'– 15' training lead
2 6' lead3 Collar
4 Voice
Types of Lead
 |  |  |
| Leather | Rope | Training |
Bulldog clip
The recommended type of lead for walking your dog (Heelwork) is of the flat leather type about 3 feet to 4 feet in length, stitched not riveted, as rivets can distort and cut. The use of a nylon lead is not recommended because if the dog lunges or pulls you can suffer rope burns, (although I must admit this is the type I use), likewise people tend to wrap chain or rope leads around their hand, if the dog lunges etc., they can suffer serious bruising. The recommended type of clip is a Bulldog clip (as shown), which is a piece of flat moulded metal, that should the lead be dropped and the dog step on the clip, it will not embed itself in the dog’s paws unlike the figure of eight or question mark clip. The training lead can be purchased from a saddler’s shop; they are use for leading horses etc.
Types of collar
Buckle Collar
This is the best choice for use on puppies and easygoing docile dogs and everyday wear for other dogs whilst not under training. Note the ID tag a legal requirement nowadays and you do want your dog back. Don’t you? I would also recommend having your dog micro-chipped.
Check Chain (Slip Collar) This is the most common collar used by trainers and should be used by you if your dog is not cooperating very well with the flat collar. I have had people say that this is a “Cruel” choice of collar, which I must confess I don’t understand since they are the ones at the other end of the lead and any “Cruelty” inflicted is by them. These collars are designed to get the dogs attention when tighten and they do. With this type of collar you need to give far fewer corrections than with a flat collar. An exception would be dogs with long hair as this can get snagged in the links and as you can imagine this would be painful when the lead is pulled. [I must admit that I keep rewriting the above paragraph, at the end of the day if you are not comfortable using a check chain then don’t. The only comment I will add is that from personal observation in training classes that I run. The handlers who use check chains appear to have better control over their dog, do better heelwork and correct their dog less.]
Never deliberately ‘yank’ your dog when using a check chain, it is a training aid NOT a method of punishment.
Creating ‘The Loop’ in the Chain
 |  |
| Correct! | Wrong! |
| Fig 1 | Fig 2 |
The correct method of fitting a check chain is shown in fig 1 where the chain forms a running loop, which on loosening the lead slackens the chain. Fig 2 shows the incorrect method of fitting the chain, turning it into a choke chain instead of a check chain, here on loosening the lead the chain fails to release and remains tight around the dog’s neck.
VOICE
Left till last, so that it will be remembered the best. This is the MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment you have for training your dog, but please use it correctly. Its no use telling your dog he’s a good boy in a gruff voice, correction yes, but praise should be in a “Cheerful” tone. I’m sure you get the idea.
Dogs are by tradition worked on the left of the handler and as such it has now become International ruling and in this country (United Kingdom) Kennel Club ruling. There are several reasons given for this, the main one being, that Military Dog Handlers kept their right side free since this is where they carried their weapons, but the actual reason is not really known.
Right and Left Hands
The lead is normally held in your right hand and consequently your right is your hard hand as it’s the hand that checks the dog. Your left hand that is nearest to your dog is your kind hand, which is the hand to praise your dog with. Never grab your dog with either hand and it should never become hand shy especially if the left hand is only used for praise, NOT CORRECTION.
Command Sequence
NAME Call name to get attention.
COMMAND Sit (If that is what we are teaching).
COMPULSION Needed in the early stages.
PRAISE Most important of all.
NAME Call name to get attention.
COMMAND Sit (If that is what we are teaching).
COMPULSION Needed in the early stages.
PRAISE Most important of all.
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Dally4eva |
Latest page update: made by Dally4eva
, Apr 6 2009, 2:40 PM EDT
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